(Winnipeg) Police allege a Winnipeg man charged with killing an Indigenous woman last May also killed three other women — two also confirmed to be Indigenous and one believed to be Indigenous.
Jeremy Skibicki was charged on May 18 and kept in custody after the partial remains of 24-year-old Rebecca Contois were found in a trash can near an apartment building. Mme Contois lived in Winnipeg, but was a member of the O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, also known as Crane River.
At the time, police said they were not ruling out other victims. On Thursday, she said Mr Skibicki was now charged with first-degree murder in three other deaths that occurred in the same short spring period.
Police said Morgan Beatrice Harris, 39, and Marcedes Myran, 26, were killed in the first week of May. Both women lived in Winnipeg and were members of the Long Plain First Nation.
Police also said a fourth woman, unidentified but believed to be Indigenous, was believed to have been killed on or around March 15, 2022. They released a photo of a jacket similar to the one she was wearing.
“It’s always disturbing any time there’s a series of murders,” Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth said.
“It involves Indigenous women. We are very sensitive to the whole inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women and the recommendations that came out of it. »
Police released few details of their investigation, but stressed they had no leads to any other potential victims.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham offered his condolences.
“Anger and grief — that mix — that’s what I’m feeling right now, and I think a lot of people in our city are going to feel the same way,” he said.
“We have more to do to keep this community safe. »